1:72 F-111C Cockpit late modification with 3D decals

Resin cockpit for the F-111C in its late form, 1:72 scale

The set holds a resin cockpit completed with three-dimensional decals, which give the instrument panels relief and color. It is not an aircraft model but an accessory to a plastic kit. It is intended for the late form of the cockpit, that is for the state after the equipment was upgraded, and that is the essential difference from the set for the early form, because the interior differs according to the year you are representing on the model.

The real subject

The General Dynamics F-111 is a two-seat combat aircraft with a variable-geometry wing and with the crew seats side by side, which gives it an unusually wide nose. The F-111C version served with the Royal Australian Air Force and combined a longer wing and a strengthened landing gear with the equipment of the tactical versions. During their long service the machines went through an avionics upgrade, so the cockpit of the later years no longer looked as it did when they entered service. The Australian F-111s were among the very last aircraft of this type in operation.

Usage tips

Wash the resin parts in lukewarm soapy water, cut the casting blocks off with a saw and level the mating surfaces with sandpaper. Apply the three-dimensional decals to a smooth surface treated with primer; once laid on, draw off the surplus water and press the decal down with a soft brush so that it settles into the recesses. Finish and paint the cockpit before you join the fuselage halves, otherwise you will no longer be able to reach it. Protect your airways when sanding resin.

Who the set is for

• builders of the F-111C in its late form, 1:72 scale
• modelers who want a well worked-out interior under the glazing
• more experienced builders working with resin and decals
• those interested in the Royal Australian Air Force